We know the Sri Lankan community is passionate about cricket, but what about Australia’s other great game, Aussie rules?
On Wednesday evening the Carlton Football Club, supported by the AFL’s Multicultural Program, invited the Sri Lankan community to Ikon Park for an introduction session to football.
The talk, which ran for an hour, included speeches on the history of Carlton and the Club, Carlton’s plans for Multicultural Round and an introduction to the skills and rules of the game.
Ishika Kawiratne was born in Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka, and her family moved to Australia in 1985 when she was two-years-old.
Ishika, who helped organise the information night, works at the AFL and says sessions like these help the Sri Lankan community “feel part of our wider football community”.
“We’re really humbled that the Carlton Football Club is hosting a ‘Welcome to Carlton’ evening for the Sri Lankan community in Victoria.
“Our primary goal is to get the Sri Lankan community to engage with our game and we feel that Multicultural Round is the ideal platform to do so,” she said.
The AFL’s Multicultural Round, which was launched last week, promotes respect for diversity among the Victorian community. Iskika says it’s an “important round” on the premiership calendar.
“The AFL’s Multicultural Round enables us to truly celebrate the diversity of our game and gives us the chance to highlight the contribution multicultural communities make to Aussie rules,” she said.
Carlton’s Ed Curnow and Blaine Boekhorst were on hand at the information night to answer any questions about the game.
Carlton players Ed Curnow and Blaine Boekhorst host members of the Sri Lankan community at the Club. (Photo: Virosh Perera)
The interactive session was very lively as members from the Sri Lankan band, who you always see playing at the cricket, brought along their instruments for a live jam and demonstration.
Ishika says Sri Lankans are famous for being passionate about their cricket, but they really have a love of all sports.
“In a country that was torn apart by a civil war, devastated by the 2004 Tsunami and is home to four of the world’s main religions, sport seems to be one of the strongest pillars that unites Sri Lankan people.
“You might be surprised at just how many second-generation Australians of Sri Lankan ethnicity are already passionate footy fans!” she said.
As a Carlton supporter, Ishika hopes after last night’s session she may have created a few more Bluebaggers.
“Many people who attended the evening may not have a club of choice so we’re also hoping that they will leave wanting to become Carlton members and fans!”
The match between the Blues and the Pies will be the showcase game in Round 19 for the AFL’s Multicultural Round.
